Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland is excited by the ICC’s announcement of the new World Test Championship format.
On Thursday night, the ICC released a document which outlined a new concept for international cricket over the next five years.
Nine nations will now compete for a test title, with points acquired over all matches until mid-2021, and a grand final played between the two highest ranked nations.
“I think it could be huge,” Sutherland told SEN’s Whateley.
“It’s one for the romantics in many ways … and something for everyone to look forward to.
“I think first and foremost everyone should be thinking about that final of test cricket coming around every two years.”
The tournament puts a greater emphasis on every result, with 50-over cricket also being impacted by the scheduling.
“We’ve got with both test cricket and one day cricket, a league and a championship effectively that means every match has context and meaning,” Sutherland said.
“People are playing for points and an end result – to play in a final at the end of it.”
While there are limitations with the scheduling, Sutherland thinks it is a fair result for all countries involved.
“In a two-year cycle, everyone doesn’t play everyone, so that’s not perfect,” he said.
“But I think in the circumstances each team hosting three series and playing three away, and then a running ladder and a final is a good result, and will add significantly to test cricket.”
The governing body will now have a greater say in the scheduling of international cricket, with this Future Tour Program outlining matches until 2023.
“I’ve always had a view we need additional structure and context in the international cricket program and I think that’s the absolute fundamental here,” Sutherland said.
The World Test Championship will begin when Australia meet England in the 2019 Ashes series.